Sunday, December 29, 2013

We had another wonderful Christmas and this year we got to share it with Tina!

We enjoyed all the usual traditions like decorating the tree, making a gingerbread house, baking and delivering treats to our friends, shopping, wrapping gifts, listening to Christmas Music and remembering the sacred story of our Saviors birth.

This year the kids received a special surprise from Norway! They each got their very own Advent Calender filled with little Chocolates for each day counting down to Christmas!

Thank you Sparengen Family!!!

Christmas Morning was full of fun Surprises!

Eliza and Caleb got Ripsticks

Sarah got a Beautiful CTR ring (which is hard to see in the picture) and Tina got nail polish, and gift cards.

When we went to the valley for Grandpa's Funeral, I received an early Christmas gift from Adam. It was necessary to get it early because Adam's sister was keeping it at her home and well...it was a little hard to keep hidden!

Her name is Rosie! She is a ten month old Shih tzu/yorkie mix. She had belonged to an old friend of ours who's husband had recently passed away. This sweet woman has two other dogs, and this little girl was just a bit to much for her to handle so she was looking for a new home for her.

Somehow, Adam's sister Heather (who is also friends with Rosie's owner) was able to convince Adam that we needed her for Christmas! I will love Heather forever, because Rosie is so perfect for our family!

She doesn't shed, she never poos or pees in the house and she is so kind and gentle with little kids. She loves to play fetch and wrestle around with our kids and she also loves to just sit and cuddle with anyone who needs it.

Rosie let my niece Grace carry her around like this for well over ten minutes, She patiently "hung in there" the entire time and never tried to wriggle free. She is such a kind little dog.

On Saturday evening, after spending the day with Gurrs at Grandpa's funeral, we took the kids to see the Christmas lights at the Mesa temple. The last time we took the kids to see the lights, they were 3 years old! They had no memory of ever going. I'm so glad we found the time to go and enjoy the spirit of Christmas in such beautiful surroundings.

Early Sunday morning on the 15th of December, we received a call letting us know that Adam's Grandpa, Thomas Gurr had passed away.
He had been very sick for quite a while, and was in a great deal of pain, so the news came as a bit of a relief for us. He will be missed, but we are happy that he is free from pain and he gets to be reunited with his loved ones who have already left this mortal life.
His funeral was held on Saturday, the 21st of December in Mesa. There were so many wonderful memories shared, but there were two that touched me the most. They were both told by Bishop Nevin. Grandpa served as his executive secretary while he was bishop. This calling required Grandpa to be sitting at a desk for long periods of time every Sunday. Due to some previous health problems, and a medical procedure that didn't go so great, It was very painful for grandpa to sit for very long. He never said a word of his condition to bishop Nevin, and it wasn't until some time later that the bishop found out that Grandpa would fast every Sunday in order to make the discomfort more bearable. Another example the bishop shared was that one evening he casually mentioned to grandpa that his car had been acting up and he just hoped it would get him to work on time in the morning. When the bishop went out to his car the next morning, he noticed Grandpa was parked out in front of his home. Grandpa said he just wanted to be there to give the bishop a ride in case his car didn't start. Come to find out, since Grandpa didn't know what time the Bishop needed to leave for work, he had been waiting there for him since 4:30 in the morning.
I am sure there are hundreds of stories like these that could be told of Grandpa. He showed his love for the Lord through his service in the church and to his fellow man. I am grateful for his exsample and for his legacy.
I know that if we live as we should, we will get to see grandpa again. I am so grateful to know that through our Savior, families can and will be together forever.
We Love you Grandpa.

The day after the Trio's Birthday, we loaded up and drove over to Prescott to help my sister Lydia and her family get settled into their new home. I helped hang pictures, and re-upholster dinning room chairs, while Adam was busy with his excavator, digging a hole to sink their trampoline and moving around large boulders in their back yard. We always have fun with the Hulses. Even when we are working, and we can't wait to go back!

The Trio turned 10!! They had another great birthday this year. For their birthday I took the girls to Wal-Mart and they got to get their ears pierced! They were really nervous, but "big sis" Tina was there to help keep them calm and brave!

Eliza went first!

Sarah was totally nervous!!!

My girls are growing up!

Usually, we go out to eat on the night of their birthday, but this year the kids chose to each have a friend over for pizza and games. Caleb invited his friend Jaxson, Sarah invited her friend Bailey and Eliza invited her friend Serena.

They each got an Ipod Nano complete with their favorite songs and the Frozen Soundtrack already downloaded!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Holy Moley, I can't believe my babies are 10! The night of their Birthday I was lamenting to Adam that we are pretty much 1/2 way through raising our children. He said "Yep, and that was the easy half!" ..... He did not help my mood.

We had a wonderful, quiet Thanksgiving at home this year. We usually have Thanksgiving with our Gurr side of the family on the "odd" years, but their Thanksgiving plans weren't made until last the minute and I thought it would be nice for Tina if we just had a quiet cozy feast at home this year. Grandma and Grandpa Quist were able to join us and we had a wonderful time. Having a small group allowed me to use my good China. The girls did a great job setting the table and all the food turned out to be so good!

Adam and I took Tina Black Friday shopping later that night. We're still not sure what she thought of that crazy tradition, but we were able to get some great deals on Christmas gifts!

On Friday we all went and saw the movie Frozen! We loved it so much and can't wait to see it again!

While we missed our large extended families this year, we were so thankful to get to spend time together with "just us". We all had a wonderful weekend.

We had an awesome Halloween this year and enjoyed sharing some our traditions with Tina.

We had so much fun Teaching her how to carve a jack-o-lantern!

From Left to right: Tina's , Mom's, Sarah's, Eliza"s and Caleb's !

Every year the Kids beg us to take them to the "haunted Mansion" on Main street. This year they promised us they wouldn't get scared because "they watched the Hobbit and that's pg-13"! Okay, but we warned them, once we pay the entrance fee there's no going back, they'd have to go all the way through the Haunted house!
Well it took about ten seconds for Sarah to start crying and for Eliza to get Screaming mad at everyone for scaring her and her sister! Haha! Caleb was the only one who actually enjoyed it and wants to go again..... Fun times. :/

The kids all came up with and made their own Costumes this year. (Well, I helped a little.) I think they turned out great!

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!!!

We held our annual neighborhood Halloween pot-luck and Trick or treat hayride! We had a great turn out, with lots of yummy food and good friends! The kids all seemed to have fun and enjoyed the hayride.

This past fall, Eliza and Sarah played soccer. Their team was named "Fast and Furious"! And boy, were my girls fast! I am always surprised at their athleticism, because...well, for those of you who know me know I'm SO NOT athletic. Eliza was the fastest girl on her team! Sarah wasn't far behind her. Their team started the season with a few losses, but the ended the season with some wins!
I am so proud my girls. They are awesome!

Sarah's favorite position was goalie.

Sarah always gave 100%

Check out Eliza, stealing the ball from the other team! She is so good at that!

I love this picture of Eliza! She got tripped, but was able to stop herself from falling completely. She actually ran a few yards on all fours before getting upright and still managed to beat the girl who tripped her to the ball!!!

Gurr Family Dictionary

Those of you who have spent time with our family may have noticed that at times, we seem to have a language of our own. I thought it would be helpful to let you know what some of our favorite words and phrases mean to us.

Adgita (ad-je-tu) n. The feeling of being annoyed, or having heartburn, or indigestion. "Honey, I ate to much chili-dog-Pie, and it gave me adgita."

Buggy (bug'i)n. Any off road vehicle used solely for recreational purposes. Also known as ATV's. "Dad will you take us for a buggy ride on the Ranger ?"

Chokev. This is what the kids call throwing up. " I'm feelling sick. I think I am going to choke."

Choncho (chon-choe) n. A small town in northeastern AZ. the town is actually called Concho, but it reminds us of the town in the movie "Nacho Libre". So, we named it after a character in the movie... Choncho. "Man, If I had a double wide in Choncho, and one in Hell. I'd rent out the one in Choncho, and live in Hell.

Gee-on-out-o-here!adv. An expression directed at dogs. Adam loves shouting this phrase at dogs. He does it just so he can sound like a red neck. It's actually quite hillarious when he says it.

Grandma Milkn. Chocolate milk. While we never have chocolate milk in our home, Grandma Quist seems to have it on tap. "Mom, how come you never give us Grandma Milk?"

"Becauase I'm not Grandma that's why."

Janice bowln. an extremly large plastic bowl. It can be used for just about anything from bathing babies to holding a giant batch of popcorn. Every year Ruth's Aunt Janice gives us one for Christmas. "I need a Janice bowl, I'm about to choke."

Jonny-Big-Rig (jon-E-big-rig) n. any abnormaly large object or person. "Adam, you shouldn't call that lady a Jonny-Big-Rig. It's offensive!"

Junky Momma !adv. This term originated several years ago in the Quist household. It is an expression of extreme excitement. "After opening a box of lego's on his sixth birthday Russ was so overjoyed, that he yelled "Junky Momma!"

Popawheelie (pop-a-weel 'i) v. Making the front tire of your bike lift up off of the ground."Mom! Watch me popawheelie !" n. The name of Caleb's bike riding club. "Mom, I have new club called the popawheelie club, and I am the President."

Quit it Out !adv. An expression that means stop. One day Adam either meant to say "quit it" or "cut it out." The result was "Quit it out !" Now we say it all the time. "You better quit it out or you will be going to your room young lady!"

Sledn. a snowmobile." Kids,. its snowing ! Call Grandpa and ask him to bring up his sleds so we can go on a sweet ride."

Tempern. The kids way of saying temperature." Mom I dont feel good. You should check my temper."

About Us

Adam and I met way back in the second grade. Sixteen Years later we went on our first date,and within four months we were married. Adam is everything a husband and father should be. I consider myself truly blessed that he's mine for eternity. Two years after we were married I became pregnant with triplets. Eliza, Sarah, and Caleb joined our family in Dec. of 03. They are our miracles and we thank our Heavenly Father every day for sending them to us.
Adam spends his days as a General Contractor,operating grading and excavating equipment. I get to be a homemaker and raise our trio as a "stay at home mom". When Adam and I were kids, he loved playing in the sandbox with his toy trucks and tractors. I loved playing house with all of my baby dolls. I guess we're both living out our childhood dreams.
We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings our family so much happiness. And that's why.. "We are a Happy Family."